Current regulator for automobile headlight circuits



, H. E. WALLACE CURRENT REGULATOR FOR AUTOMOBILE HEADHGHT CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.10,1919.

- 1 ,4: 1 0,97 5 Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

H. E. WALLACE.

CURRENT REGULATOR FOR AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FlLED'DEC-IO, 1919.

.1 ,41 0,975. Patented Man'28, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR ATTO R N EY UNITED STATES PATENT orrice. 7

HARRY E. WALLACE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

Application filed December 10, 1919. Serial No. 343,804.

T a all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY E. \VALLACE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Current Regulator for Automobile HeadlightCircuits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to current regulators for automobileheadlight circuits, and its object is to provide means for the automaticcontrol of the current supplied to the headlights of the automobile,especially where the current is subject to great variation. I

The invention comprises an electromagnetic structure responsive tomutual induction between associated parts subjected to alternatingelectric currents such as are produced by the magneto of the Fordautomobile, although not necessarily confined to such particular currentsource. The invention contemplates the maintenance of a substantiallyconstant out-put from a relatively low speed of travel of the vehicle upto a high speed of travel, with the electro-magnetic device or structureintroducing conditions preventing any rise in current after theattainment of a predetermined maximum. I

While the idea of the invention is not broadly new, the means by whichthe idea is carried out is believed to be novel.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration ofthefollowing detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with theunderstanding. however, that the invention is not confined to any strictconformity with the showing in the drawings, but may be changed andmodified so long as such changes and modifications mark no materialdeparture from the salient features of the invention as expressed in theappended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, as seenfrom the right hand side thereof. I

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

cuits.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown Figure 4 is a diagram of theelectric cira support or bracket 1 which may be made fast to any part ofthe engine or of the automoblle, but preferably the engine, because theengine is made of metal and provides a convenient ground. In Figures 1,2 and 3, a small portion of the engine is indicated at 2, the sameshowing 2 also being indicated in Figure 4 by the conventional sign of aground, The bracket 1 may be secured to the englne 2 or any suitablemetallic part by screws 3 or otherwise.

The bracket 1 is formed of suitable height or extent and at one side hasa prolongation 4const1tuting a core of an electro-magnet with the coresurrounding by a coil 5. Alongside of the core 4 is a projection of thebracket 1 constituting a pole-piece 6 in substantially parallel relationwith the prolongation or pole-piece 4. On top or at the free end of thepole-piece 6 there is mounted an armature 7 having one end overlying thefree end of the pole-piece 4 and there held and guided by a headed pin8, so that the armature 7 may have a limited rocking movement about apin 9, holding it on the extremity of the pole-piece 6. The armature 7is loosely traversed by the pins 8 and 9 and the end of the armatureremote from the pole-piece 4 is overbalanced as indicated at 10 tonormally hold, by gravity, that end of the armature traversed by the pin8 away from the free end of the electro-magnet made up of the pole-piece4 and coil 5.

Fast to, but insulated from, the pole-piece 6 is a contact member 11 inthe path of the lighter end of the armature 7 and in position to beengaged by the armature 7, when the latter is attracted by the magnetcore 4, so as to then complete a circuit, as will hereinafter appear.

The bracket 1 carries pins 12 on which are mounted rock arms 13. Thepins 12 also carry spacing sleeves 14.

The rock arms 13 arespaced apart lengthwise of the respective pins 12,and mounted on the pins between the arms are like legs 15, 15*, ofcorresponding U-shaped cores 16, 16 of two similar electric magnets A,B, respec tively, eaclrwith a leg 17, 17, spaced from the other leg 15,15, respectively, by a yoke portion 18, 18, respectively, surrounded bya coil 19, 19, respectively.

' The legs 15, 15 of the two electro-magnets A, B each enter the otherelectro-magnet between the legs thereof to a point close to the coil19-or 19", as the case maybe, so that the two legs 15, 15 are closelyadjacent. The outer face of each leg 15, 15 is flat and the inner faceof each leg 17, 17" is flat and is arranged closely adjacent to the flatouter face of the other leg 15, 15 The links or rock arms 13 serve asparallel connections for the magnets A, B, so that these two magnets maymove relatively to eachother with the adjacent flat faces of the armsalways parallel, but because of the parallel action of the links 13,these faces progressively approach each other or recede one from theother.

Ford automobiles are customarily pro vided with sources of current suchas alternating current generators 21. One side of the generator 21 isconnected by a conductor 22 to one terminal of the coil 19, the otherterminal of which coil is connected by a conductor 23 to one terminal ofthe coil 19. Leading from the other terminal of the coil 19 is aconductor 24 connected by another conductor 25 to the mid-point of thecoil 5, which latter is wound to produce opposing fluxes in the core 4.One end of the coil 5, which is thus connected up in opposition, isconnected by a conductor 26 to a headlight lamp 27. The other end'of thecoil 5 is connected by a conductor 28 to another headlight lamp 29, andboth lamps 27 and 29 are connected in multiple by a conductor 30 to theother side of the magneto 21, and also to round.

ranched off from the conductor 25, where joined to the conductor 2a orat any other suitable point, is a conductor 31 including an ohmicresistance 32 beyond which the conductor 31 is connected to the contactmember 11. The bracket or support 1 has already been described asconnected tothe ground 2,

but in the diagram, Figure 4, this bracket is indicated as connected toground by a conductor 33, with the understanding that such ground may bedirectly produced instead of through the conductor 33.

The controller comprising the magnets A and B and associated parts, isso constructed and proportioned, that with the engine running at acomparatively low speed, say that which will propel the vehicle at aboutten miles an hour on high gear, the light emitted by the lamps willapproximate the maximum light desired and which, without the presence ofthe controller, would correspond to the light usually furnished by theFord headlights when the vehicle is traveling on high gear at abouttwenty miles per hour. If now, the speed of thevehicle be increased toabout fifteen or twenty miles per hour the voltage out-put of themagneto is correspondingly increased, wherefore there is a tendency toan increase of current in the magnets A and B so that they are morestrongly energized. causing the arms 15 and 17 and the arms 15 and 17 toapproach at ,of the two sections of the coil 5.

their adjacent surfaces. The current controller is responsive tochanging conditions as to engine speed, varying the magnetic reluctanceof the controller circuit, so as to automatically limit the currentfurnished by the magneto to the lamps when such current has reached thepredetermined maximum which it is desired should pass through the lamps.This prevents over-illumination and avoids undue electric strains on thelamps which strains would tend to be destructive to the lamp filaments.

The magnets A and B of the current controllertend to operate inopposition to the action of gravity, this tendency being in partovercome by the spring 13. The arrangement avoids the necessity of theuse of relatively heavy springs susceptible to breakdowns. The structureis adapted for manufacture at a relatively small cost, since accuracy ofworkmanship and consequent ma chining are practically eliminated.

It is desirable to maintain the circuits in balance, but the circuit issometimes thrown out of balance by the breaking of one or the other ofthe headlights 27 or 29. To compensate for this condition, eachheadlight has included in its circuit a respective one \Vhen both lamps27 and 29 are in good condition, current coming from the magneto 21passes through both headlight lamps 27, 29 through the sections of thecoil 5, inopposition and through the. circuit controller A, B. The core4; is then subjected to opposing magnetic forces which neutralize eachother, so that the armature 7, being overbalanced by its heavy end 10,remains out of engagement with the contact 11, wherefore the ohmicresistance 32 is cut out of circuit, such ohmic resistance being equalto the ohmic resistance of either lamp 27 or 29. If, now, one of thelamps burns out or is broken for any cause, current passes to the coil 5and flows through but one-half of such coil, while the other half of thecoil is dead. Therefore. the core 1 is energized and the armature 7 isattracted, thus completing a circuit from the magneto through thecurrent controller A. B, to the conductor 25 to one-half of the coil 5,thence through the unbroken lamp, back to the magneto. The current alsoflows from the magneto '21 and conductor through the current controllerA, B. thence through conductor 24, conductor 31, and

ohmic resistance 32, to the contact 11, and back to ground by way ofconductor 33 re turning by way of the conductor 30 to the magneto.

Because the cores of the magnets A, B are subjected to alternatingcurrent, they are made laminated in accordance with the usual practice.By supporting the magnets A, B of the regulator pendently with )arallelmotion connections, the regulator will operate in close correspondenceto the variations in current, due to the variations in speed of theengine. The coils 19 and 19 comprise reactance coils each with a coremovable toward and from the other core so as to vary the magneticreluctance of the coils which act after the fashion of a single coilwith a movable core member.

The two magnets A and B substantially balance each other by gravity.They are held apart in opposition to magnetic attraction by a spring 13attached at the ends to diagonally opposite pins 20. The spring 13 maybe a coiled spring, as shown, or of any other suitable type.

The gravity switch 7 for introducing the resistance is particularlyvaluable because of the low frequency at which the device is oftenrequired to operate. Spring arrangements act as vibrators and close thecircuit intermittently. There is no rebound in the case of the gravityswitch and hence, intermittent action which would occur with a springcontrolled switch, is obviated.

What is claimed is:

1. A regulator for an electric circuit having a current source greatlyvariable in speed, comprising reactance coils with pendently associatednormally separated cores having adjacent parallel faces, and parallelmotion connections between the cores.

2. A regulator for an electric circuit in which there is a currentsource subject to marked variations in speed and producing correspondingvariations in voltage, comprising U-shaped cores with adjacent parallelfaces, and with parallel link connections between the adjacent legs ofthe cores, and energizing coils for the cores, to be included in circuitwith the current source.

3. A regulator for an electric circuit containing a current sourceproducible of great variations in voltage, comprising U-shaped coreswith adjacent parallel faces, and each with a coil thereon forconnection to the current source, each core having one leg shorter thanthe other and the associated cores having the shorter legs adjacent toeach other and between the longer legs, and parallel motion linksconnecting the shorter legs.

4. A regulator for an electric circuit containing a current sourceproducible of great variations in voltage, comprising U-shaped coreswith adjacent parallel faces, and each with a coil thereon forconnection to the current source, each core having one leg shorter thanthe other and the associated cores having the shorter legs adjacent toeach other and between the longer legs, and parallel motion linksconnecting the shorter legs, said links each being pivotally'connectedat the ends to the respective legs and each provided with anintermediate pivotal support carrying the links and cores.

5. A regulator for an electric circuit in which there is a currentsource producing great variations in voltage, comprising two U-shapedcores each with one leg longer than the other and each core beingprovided with a coil for inclusion in circuit with the circuit source,the cores having the shorter legs adjacent and between the longer legsand the outer surfaces of the shorter legs bein presented toward theinner surfaces 0 the longer legs, and supports for the cores wherebythey are carried pendently, comprising rock arms or links spacedlengthwise of the cores and pivoted at the ends to the shorter legs ofthe cores and pivotally carried intermediate of the length of said armswhereby the cores are dis osed u right and moved with relation to eacother by parallel motion.

6. A regulator for an electric circuit having a current source subjectto considerable variation in speed, comprising reactance coils withnormally separated cores having adjacent parallel faces in inductiverelation and having parallel motion connections.

7 A regulator for an electric circuit having a current source subject toconsiderable variation in speed, comprising reactance coils withnormally separated cores having adjacent parallel faces in inductiverelation and having parallel motion connections, said cores beingreversely related and pendently supported.

8. A regulator for an electric circuit having a current source subjectto considerable variation in speed, comprising adjacent reactance coilswith inductively related cores both movable lengthwise of and toward andfrom each other.

. 9. A' regulator for an electric circuit havmg a current source subjectto considerable variations in voltage, said regulator comprising asupport with associated reactance coils having cores ininductiverelation and with a portion of the core of each coil located betweenportions of the core of the other coil, and said cores and coils beingmounted to move toward and from each other with their adjacent facesmaintained parallel.

10. A regulator foran electric circuit having acurrent source subject toconsiderable variations in voltage. said regulator comprising a supportwith associated reactance coils having cores in inductive relation andwith a portion of the core of each coil located between portions of thecore of the other coil, and said cores and coils being mounted to movetoward and from each other with their faces maintained parallel, andsaid cores also being mounted in a substantially upright position on thesupport.

11. A regulator for an electric circuit having a current source subjectto considerable variations'in voltage, comprising a support,

mounted on the support, the cores of each coil being in inductiverelation to the cores of the other coil and having a parallelmotion'approach and recession.

12. A regulator for an electric circuit having a. current source varyingconsiderably in voltage, comprising associated inductance coils eachhaving its cores reversed with respect to the cores of the other andmounted to move both lengthwise of the cores and perpendicularly to saidlength.

13. A regulator for an electric circuit subject to considerablevariations in voltage, comprisin a pair of inductance coils each with aU- fiaped core located reversely to the core of the other coil and eachhaving its le s inductively related to the opposite legs of t e othercoil, and parallel-motion connections between the cores for the mutualapproach and recession of said cores.

14. A regulator for the headlight system of an automobile having acurrent source varying considerably in voltage, comprising inductancemeans included in circuit with the current source and with both of theheadlights in parallel, and also having means for introducingelectro-magnetic reactance corresponding to the variations in voltage,and means for introducing into the circuit in parallel with theheadlights, an other circuit including an ohmic resistance equal to thatof a headlight for restoring the current value of the headlight circuit.

15. A headlight system for automobiles provided with a' current sourcesubject to considerable variations in voltage, comprising electricheadlights arranged in circuits in parallel, an electro-magnetic switchhaving opposed energizing coils arran d in the respective headlightcircuits, ant ohmic resistance correspondin to that of a headlightcircuit and arrange in parallel with the headli ht circuits, said switchbeing normally biased to open position and in circuit with said ohmicresistance for closing the ohmic resistance circuit in the event ofeither headlight failing, and a regulator for the headlight comprisinginductance coils included in circuit with the current source andprovided with cores mounted to have a substantially parallel motiontowards and from each other to electro-magnetically maintain asubstantially constant flow of current through the headlightsirrespective of the variations in voltage supplied by the currentsource.

16. A headlight system for automobiles, provided with a current sourcesubject to considerable variations in voltage, comprising electricheadlights arranged in parallel circuits, a normal y balancedelectro-magnetic switch having opposed energizing coils individual to arespective headlight. an ohmic resistance, and a normally open circuitfor coupling the ohmic resistance in the headlight circuit in the eventof either headlight failing.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' HARRY E. WALLACE.

Witnesses F. M. DAVIDSON. CRESCENTIA M. HUss.

